Biochemical effects induced by REM sleep deprivation in naive and in D-amphetamine treated rats

The neurochemical dysfunction present in patients showing self-mutilating behavior (SMB) is not well understood. In animal models, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation enhances the SMB induced by the chronic administration of d-amphetamine. To understand the mechanism underlying these effects the levels of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT) were measured in REM sleep deprived only, and in REM sleep deprived and d-amphetamine treated rats. DA levels were elevated (31%) after REM sleep deprivation (48 h) in the neostriatum and the cerebral cortex (33%), while the levels of NA and 5-HT remained constant. A 6-day treatment with d-amphetamine (7.5 mg/kg; i.p.) failed to affect, in REM sleep deprived rats, DA, NA and 5-HT levels. It was also found that REM sleep deprivation had no effects on the d-amphetamine induced [3H]DA release from slices of the same regions. Our results suggests that dopaminergic mechanisms are involved in the effects of REM sleep deprivation on SMB.